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Martin Hinteregger

Martin Hinteregger was born on September 7, 1992, in Sankt Veit an der Glan, Austria, and is currently 32 years old. As a child, he played in the children’s team of SGA Sirnitz before joining the youth academy of Red Bull Salzburg. Martin Hinteregger has been experiencing the beginning of his eighth year watching most of his matches with SGA Sirnitz – a local soccer team. Both of Martin’s parents shaped his life in their own way: his father was a coach at SGA Sirnitz and his grandfather’s father played for the club decades ago, introducing Martin to the world of the beautiful game at an early age.

Influence of family on his development

His father Franz was not only active in many sports, but also a youth instructor later on, so Martin was enthusiastic about soccer from an early age. This bond with his father strengthened Martin’s passion and made his childhood dream of playing professionally possible in the first place. His sister also joined the club and played sweeper there, often serving as his role model and motivating him to keep getting better. As a self-made Hinteregger, his parents were also very open about the challenges of a professional life: while his mother and sister were proud of Martin’s development, his father occasionally worried that his son might regret his decision to become a footballer at some point. This supportive family gives Hinteregger moral support even in difficult times. However, essential lessons from childhood would also make his childhood and youth considerably more difficult.

Attributes of the founding path

Cohesion value, treatment of pressure and openness to new ideas; Martin Hinteregger has learned not only as a team player but also as a person to deal with public attention and has sometimes maintained his self-confidence. His childhood days exploded into a football fire ceremony that shaped him into a fully-fledged personality; on such days, he signed a youth contract with an Austrian club. Born in the remote Austrian town of Sirnitz, the young man has been part of a footballing culture since childhood. Professional football is a collective process in both matches and everyday activities: it is therefore not so easy to describe a key aspect of the progression of a football career.

Achievements in his youth

Championships from U10 to U14: Hinteregger won many group championships with the SGA Sirnitz youth teams.
Futsal Indoor Championship: In 2006, his U14 team came in third place in the 3rd Carinthian Futsal Indoor Championships.
Carinthian state selection: His performances in the various SGA team selections led to him being selected to train and play against other talented young players.

These results were the foundation for his future career. Their significance lies in the fact that Hinteregger not only gained the self-confidence of all these won games, but also the ability to line up in connection with others and to remain calm in stressful situations. The next step in his career was a club change. In the summer of 2006, he finally went to the land of Rotebullen. It was his big move that everyone in Sirnitz was talking about. For him, it made a big difference in expanding his circle of friends and doing the same distant football internship. Once he was in the academy, he helped him stay awake day and night. “I learned a lot in the academy, but I also lay in bed at night and longed for carefree days in Sirnitz.” Finally, Hinteregger recognizes loyalty in the academy. In his first year with Salzburg, he had to gain control of the unmanageable meanings that are sometimes ruthless and realistic. After 9:00 p.m., the continuation of the Internet tried to publish the lively evening meeting place regularly, “I’m not doing anything unnecessary.” This is how he states: “I hate unknown people.”

Career progress in Salzburg

Player development

Hinteregger, who soon realized that he had the talent to succeed in the U17 and later in the U19 of Red Bull Salzburg, scored his first goal in the 2008/09 season in the U19 Youth League, quickly making it clear that he could take on an important position in defense. His promotion to the first team at just 18 years of age had pushed Hinteregger’s first game for the professional team: on April 23, 2010, he played 90 minutes in a league game, showing that he could be an important addition to the team. The move to the professional team was one of the most defining moments of his career: Hinteregger came to one of the country’s elite clubs and was recognized not only as a talented player but also as an easy-to-train teammate.

“The years in Salzburg were crucial for my development,” he recalls. ‘Not only did I improve my footballing skills, but I also learned how to handle pressure and take responsibility.’ Such experiences shaped his subsequent career as a professional, during which he had some of the most important successes that made him one of the most defining players on the Austrian football scene.

Breakthrough in professional football

The first professional contracts

The moment of actual breakthrough for Martin Hinteregger came in 2010 when he received his first contracts as a professional football player. After an impressive stint with Red Bull Salzburg, and especially after becoming a key figure in the youth team, the club decided to include him in the professional team. On April 23, 2010, Hinteregger made his debut in the Austrian second division against LASK Linz, in which his team won 2-0. Although this was an exciting time, the young player faced many challenges. However, at 17 years old, he wanted to be ready to step into the spotlight.

“It was incredible to be on the pitch and know that I was now part of the professional team,” recalls Hinteregger. The professional athlete should still have remained inventive and looked boldly into the future. Hinteregger recalls, ”At the time, my first monthly salary was around €10,000 gross. I understood that it could all be over very quickly, but I also knew that I was ready.” It seemed that the footballer had already recognized the essence of the sport at a young age. In the first few years of his club, he quickly managed to establish himself and stay on the main pitch.

Games and successes at various clubs

Martin Hinteregger played for several different clubs during his football career. There were significant events and successes at every stop on his football journey.

Club career

FC Red Bull Salzburg (2009–2016): With the club, he won several titles and became Austrian champion and ÖFB Cup winner. Hinteregger became a clear defensive leader and won defensive, and his danger at the forefront, especially in crosses and corners, is simply unavoidable.
Borussia Mönchengladbach (2016, loan): The move to the Bundesliga was exciting for Hinteregger, although he didn’t get to use absolutely everything at this club. After 10 games without scoring, the club released the player and sent him on loan to Salzburg.
FC Augsburg (2016–2019): The Austrian emerged as an important midfielder for the club. In total, Hinteregger played 83 competitive games for the team and scored 5 goals until he was suspended for criticizing his coach.
Eintracht Frankfurt (2019–): This has been the most successful period of his career, even though he played there after passing his peak. In 87 Bundesliga appearances, Hinteregger scored 11 goals and became one of the fans’ favorite players. The highlight of his Frankfurt days was winning the 2022 Europa League, thanks to which he left a memorable souvenir.

Achievement: Titles and awards

Austrian champion: won multiple titles with Red Bull Salzburg.
Austrian FA Cup: won multiple titles with Salzburg.
Europa League winner: with Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2021/2022 season.

“My time in Frankfurt was one of the most successful in my life, and I’ve never had such support from the fans before,” says Hinteregger. All of this, along with his successes in the Bundesliga, made Hinteregger one of the most famous players in Austria. And his career in the big city allowed him to gain a great deal of experience to prepare for a career in soccer after retirement. After all, he not only taught technique but also many life lessons and will continue to do so for many years to come.

National team career

Call-up to the national team

Martin’s path to the national team began in April 2008, when he was first nominated for the Austrian national youth team. For him, this moment was both exciting and significant – it was the confirmation of his talented play and hard work during his youth. Under coach Andreas Herzog, Hinteregger was named in the 18-man squad for an international match, and on April 16, 2008, he made his debut in a friendly against Switzerland.

“Pulling on the shirt for the national team was an absolute highlight for me in my career,” said Hinteregger. ”I knew I could get into the senior national team if I worked hard.”

Important milestones in the national team

U19 and U21: Hinteregger played in various age groups of the national team, including U19 and U21, and made a total of 13 appearances. It was a great experience that showed him what teamwork in the field looks like and the pressure on players during international matches.
A-Nationalteam: The long-awaited appearance in the A-Nationalteam took place on November 19, 2013 in a friendly against Uruguay. He played the full 90 minutes in the match, proving his value to the team.

Such games served as a template for a series of senior team appearances that further fueled his ambition. In terms of tournaments, Hinteregger participated in the following important tournaments. Hinteregger’s international involvement has taken him to several important tournaments that have influenced not only his sporting career but also his sporting passion.

European Championships and other tournaments

Following his growing success, Hinteregger was selected for the 2016 European Championship squad by Austrian national team manager Marcel Koller. Although Austria were knocked out at the group stage, the future defender took part in all three games and played a prominent role in the team.

Looking back on his international career

He played a total of 67 games for the national team and always proved to be a strong defender who set up the team both defensively and offensively. At the same time, he scored many goals from set pieces and was a real threat to the defense. However, there were always pressures and challenges.

“Sometimes it was too much of a burden, but I’m still a strong player today,” Hinteregger admits. ”Football is not just a game, but a tribute to yourself and a source of inspiration for fans.”

Overall, Martin Hinteregger’s national team career was marked by significant successes and challenges that ultimately shaped him as a player. Personally, he learned a lot.

Social engagement and charitable work

Martin Hinteregger is much more than just a successful footballer. Above all, he actively helps in his community through social projects. Recently, and especially since his return to Sirnitz, this trend has intensified. The establishment of the “Martin Hinteregger Foundation – Seize the Opportunity” is a testament to his desire to make a difference.

The foundation’s goals

Help children from socially disadvantaged families
Provide support and development opportunities for disadvantaged young adults

“Children who are lagging behind in their development or are repeatedly left behind in football deserve an opportunity,” emphasizes Hinteregger. He also intends to provide workshops and courses with scholarship programs where children can make contact with authors, musicians and footballers, so that they are offered support in discovering and developing their talents.

Hinteregger is aware of the consequences of having a prominent name. “It’s not enough for me just to benefit from success. I also want to make a difference,” he says. This means that he is involved in local initiatives and events in Sirnitz. He always supports his neighborhood and is a true source of inspiration for many at different levels.

“It is important to give something back and to help those who need it,” he says. This thought has always been with him. Overall, Martin Hinteregger is a great authority in his environment. In many of these relationships, it becomes clear that life outside the football field does not necessarily have to lead directly to contentment. Hinteregger’s important activity and his primal need to do good for a community characterize him as an active and committed person.

Further information

For detailed statistics and up-to-date information on Martin Hinteregger, please visit his Transfermarkt page.

Martin Hinteregger: Alter, Herkunft und Weg zum Profifußball